50 Tibetans detained for trying to storm Chinese embassy

March 16, 2008

By Indo-Asian News Service
Saturday, March 15, 2008

Over 50 Tibetan activists were detained Saturday afternoon when they
tried to storm the Chinese embassy here - the third time in a week - to
protest the crackdown on demonstrating monks in Lhasa, in Tibet.

The protestors, under the banner of the Tibetan Youth Congress, tried to
march towards the embassy in Chanakyapuri at around 11.30 a.m. with
their faces smeared with white paint.

Carrying Tibetan flags, placards, banners and spray paint, the activists
chanted anti-Beijing slogans and attempted to barge into the embassy,
but were whisked away by police personnel and Delhi Police’s anti-riot cell.

The Tibetans, including women, came mostly from Manju ka Tilla and
others parts of north Delhi. They were later taken to the nearest police
station.

“We have detained nearly 50 protesting activists for staging
demonstration in a prohibited area,” a police official told IANS, adding
that they could be arrested.

Police had late Friday arrested more than 40 Tibetans from outside the
Chinese embassy for holding a candlelight rally. A large posse of
policemen had prevented their “peace march” from the American embassy to
the Chinese embassy.

On Wednesday, police had arrested a group of nearly 36 women activists
after they tried to storm the Chinese embassy.

Early Friday, violence erupted in Lhasa as the Chinese government
deployed riot police to control protests initiated by Buddhist monks.

The protestors beat at least three fire fighters and several police
officers and tore down a Chinese national flag in the square outside
Lhasa’s Jokhang temple, the holiest shrine in the city for Tibetan
Buddhists, a witness said.

The protests began Monday, the 49th anniversary of a failed Tibetan
uprising against Chinese rule.